If Iranians knew they were being 'gamed' they would have said so, I would have thought, unless I missed something ...
Yeah, who knows? Perhaps, in these games of chess between military and intell agencies of various states and blocs, messages are given and received (both literally and symbolically) way above the heads of the public. Powder is kept dry; partial information is given; admissions, apologies and retractions are strategically made; revenge is sat upon until the dish is cold enough, etcetera, etcetera...